Bottle stamper



' April 1942- R. c. TALBOT 2,280,730

BOTTLE 'STAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I 12 Sheets-SheetI? Z dhfd 61%;,

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April 21, 1942. R. c. TAL BOT BOTTLE STAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 April 21942- I R. c. TALBCI)T 2,280,730

' BOTTLE STAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940' 12 Sheets-Sheet s llllllllllllllApril 21, 1942. R. 0. mar 2,280,730

BOTTLE S TAMPER pr 21,1942. -R. c. TALB'QT 8 ,1

BOTTLE STAMPER I Filed Aug. 5, 1940 l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 41 mm W April 21,1942. Q TALBOT 2,280,730

BOTTLE STAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 21, 1942, R.c. TALBdT 2,280,730

BOTTLESTAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet s ay ay April 21, 1943c. TALBOT 2,280,730

- BOTTLE STAMPER Filed Aug. 5, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 2% 9.55. 14 z/ I/5! /2? j I April 21, 1942. R, c, TALBOT 2,280,730

- BOTTLE SVTAMPER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 12 Shgefs-Sheet 10 R. C. TALBOTBOTTLE STAMPER April 21, 1942;

12 Sheets-Sheet 11 ,Filed Aug. 3, 1 940 April 21, 1942. R TALBOT2,280,730.

BOTTLE STAMPER Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLESTAMPER North Carolina Application August 3, 1940, Serial N 0. 350,782

29 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in stamping machines, andmore especially to those of the class adapted to apply and. afiixrevenue or similar stamps across the tops of bottles.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a novelstamping machine which is capable of rapidly and automatically applyingstamps to the tops of bottles so that the ends of the stamps extend downevenly and in parallelism along the sides of the necks of the bottlesand are firmly affixed thereto.

Another object is to provide an automatic stamping machine of this classin which the mechanisms for advancing the bottles, feeding the stampsand applying the stamps to the bottles are so organized and coordinatedthat these operations may be performed while the machine operatescontinuously and the bottles advance uninterruptedly, thus enabling themachine to operate smoothly and. rapidly and to stamp a large number ofbottles per unit of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stamping machine inwhich the stamps applied to the bottles are maintained under pressureagainst the bottles as the latter continue to advance through themachine, thereby insuring firm affixing of the stamps to the bottlesprior to their discharge from the machine.

Another object is to provide novel means for feeding stamps from amagazine, applying adhesive thereto, and transferring them to means forconveying the stamps to the stamp afiixing devlces.

Another object is to provide novel means for conveying the stamps to thebottles, and means for accurately positioning the stamps across the topof the bottles so that they will be afiixed evenly and uniformly theretoby the stamp aflixing devices.

Another object is to provide novel and improved stamp affixing deviceswhich are capable of pressing and affixing the stamps into intimate andadhering contact with the somewhat irregular surfaces at the mouths andalong the adjacent portions of the necks of the bottles.

A further object is to provide a bottle stamping machine of a novelconstruction whereby it may be readily adjusted for the stamping ofbottles of different sizes or heights.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the features of novelty Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe driving means for the machine, this view being a horizontal sectiontaken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the escapement whichcontrols the entrance of the bottles into the machine;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. 4 as viewed from the lower side thereof;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a portion of the turntable and oneof the stamping devices which stamp the bottles while they are supportedand advanced by the turntable, the section being taken on the line 6-6in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, ofthe stamp feeding and gumming mechanism and a portion of the stamptransferring means which conveys the stamps to the bottles on theturntable;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative timing of the camswhich oscillate the stamp magazine and control the operation of thestamp gripper;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section taken through the lower portion ofthe stamp magazine on the line Il-ll inFig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical section taken on the line l2-|2 in Fig. 11;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail views of the stamp magazine and stampgripper, showing the successive relative positions of these parts whileremoving the stamp from the magazine and engaging it with the gripper;

Fig. 16 is a detail vertical section through the stamp magazine, takenon the line 16-46 in Fig. 13;

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are detail vertical sections through the stampgripper, on an enlarged scale, showing diagrammatically the manner inwhich the gripper removes a stamp from the magazine and delivers it tothe stamp transferring means;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the stamp gripper;

Fig. 21 is a detail section taken on the line 2l-2l in Fig. 17;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 22-22 in Fig.19;

Fig. 23 is a detail view of the mechanism cooperative with the stamptransferring means for releasing the stamp therefrom when positionedabove a bottle on the turntable;

Fig. 24 is a cross section taken on the line 24--24 in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a perspective View of one of the stamp carriers on the stamptransferring means;

Fig. 26 is a detail section taken longitudinally through one end of oneof the stamp carriers indicating by the dotted and full lines theoperation of one of the stamp impaling pins;

Fig. 27 is a perspective View of a form of; stamp which the machine isadapted to apply to bottles;

Fig. 28 is a detail vertical section through one of the devices foradjusting the machine for the stamping of bottles of different sizes orheights;

Fig. 29 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale and taken on theyline 237-729 in. Fig. 2, showing the position of onev oi the stampingdevices. all the station where the stamp is pgsitioned over a bottle onthe turntable;

Fig. 30 is an elevation ct Fig. 29 as viewed; from the left;

Fig. 31 is a. vertical section taken. on the line 3l-3l in Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a horizontal, section taken on the line 32-42 in Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 30., but show: ing the. presser headlowered to. press. the center of a stamp on the top of a bottle;

Figs. 34 and 35 are. views similar to, Figs. 30 and 33, but showingfurther stages in the. op eration of the stamp affixing device for siing the ends of the stamp to, opposite sides of theneck of the bottle;and

Fig. 36 is a development of the. cam which op; erates the stamp ailixingdevice.

Similar parts are designated by the same R erence characters, in thedifierent figures,

The, machine comprises a main frame I of; suitable. form mounted onsupporting legs 2 and. an auxiliary frame 3 which. is adjustable vertiw'cally relatively to the main frame to enable the machine t sta n ttlesof differe ths is, a will be hereinafter described. The auxiliary trainswhi ompr s s. p bl a hanne mp, 1S

fixed to the upper ends of a pair of standarols 4. which extenddownwardly and are slidable vert ca l bu hin s e u ed n. th rame The w rdf c ushe s a screw 6 mounted therein for rotation on averi l ax ea f.these s ewsbsiea rea e into a nut 'l fixed in the lower end of therespective standard 4, and the lower; end of each screw has a worm wheel8 pinned or otherwise fiked thereto, the worm wheels for both stand ardsmeshing respectively with worms 9 fixed b a shaft it which is journaledin suitable bears ings H fixed. to the lower ends of the bushings sitesthe shaft H1 is providedwithfa crank [2' by means of which it may berotated. The shaft L0 thus serves as means for operating the screws 61in unison to simultaneously'raise. or lower the.

standards t and the auxiliary frame 3 mounted heme The main frame i.provides a. track t which extends'longitudinally thereof, and a. bottle.con.- vieyor iifi, comprising an endless chain I]; hay.- ing platformsl3. thereonior supporting. thebotties, arranged to travel longitudinallyalong this. track in a direction from the. left toward the right inFig, 1. This conveyor. chain passes;

around a driving sprocket i9 mounted in suitable bearings at one end ofthe main frame,

this sprocket serving to drive this conveyor chain continuously in thedirection stated, and at the :1 other end this conveyor chain passesaround an idler sprocket (not shown), suitably mounted on or adjacent tothe machine. The sprocket I9 is driven continuously by a chain whichpasses around a sprocket wheel 2| fixed on a shaft 22 to which thesprocket I 9 is fixed.

The bottles, resting on the platforms of this conveyor chain are guided,as they are advanced thereby, by pairs of rails 25 between which thebottles travel; as they are advanced by the conveyo r, these rails beingsupported on brackets 26 which are figied to a plate 21 which supportsthe conveyor track E5, the rails 25 being secured adjustably to thebrackets 28 as by screws 28 which enable the transverse spacing of therails to be adjusted to accommodate bottles of diferent diamet rs nner ns. th a 25. are. ur ed nwardly to immerse t e p li i 'aQ; a; tui i i g.h @29 5 2%? Qf. wh h. i Q h e l i h the ime: this 25 tle supportingsurface of the bottle conveyor i6.

An th r Pair i bottle. gui in rail Pr vi s o swi irle the b t le t e aredi charged om the. urntab e. a d; cent re y. the:

nv r. '5.- ie h del ve nd. o the ea h T a BIB ha sur e lii r i n W whi hQ- t d tw rdl r m h' mtebla and th se.

rails are supported on. brackets. 31 which are;

fi dh com/eye: ack 91 173 23- lf g fl: 2

t e rails i b n s or dm he bra kets 31 by screws 32 which provide means,for ad;

inn n t isian e e w e hs i w. .1. form with bottlesv of differentdiameters. It will be understood that the. trayel t thebotfil nve or 3..ront h e t h r ht i he ma h ne a ow in F 1 nd 2 w ll ad nce the bottlesentering theniachihe at the left. to.

the turntable 29- and af ter the bottles have been s m and. ere i ha s dr m e tu table t ot l c nve o w l c nt nuous advanc t e St m ed bot v o.e scha n o e ac i e Whe e. th y ma be ived b a, uit.- ab e ab e r linemean r acking or other d pos tiqa.

The turntable 29 is composed preferably oi a iiat circular plate whichis supported on and secured; to the upper side ofa horizontal gear wheel35 by an annular series ofbosses 35 on the gear wheel and to which theturntable is suitably secured as by screws 37 so that the turntablerotates in unison with this gear wheel. The gear wheel 35 issupportedrotatably by its hub onthe main. frame I by a bearing 38 on which itrests and through which. is. slidable a shaft 39.. the upper end.ofwhich; isfixed' to the auxiliary frame. 3, as by a bracket 3 3. Thegear 3% p end; of a shaft h a te be n iournalled inv i l earinss n. theframe, anatne ower en of; h s haft s. onne ted; by, bevel;

ime she; d iven. m c-.1 2 machine. by any suit ble means. such a s a nelecl-i tric motor n which may, belconn ected. b e. belt s to a, 10,611;pulleyJlS on thesha ft dfi, The shaft iji also. has a sprocket. wheel 50fixed thereon and. ar un which h cha n. 20. or v n h bottle. conveying.chain ll, passes, Accordingly,

is driven by a gear 4! which is fixed on the ups...

the turntable and the bottle conveying chain will be drivencontinuously, and preferably the ratio of gearing is such as to causethe turntable and bottle conveyor to advance the bottles at the samespeed.

The present invention provides novel means for introducing the bottlesfrom the bottle conveyor I6 onto the turntable 31 so that they will bearranged in an annular series thereon and in properly spacedcircumferential relation to be operated upon by an annular series ofstamp affixing devices which are mounted above and rotated in unisonwith the turntable, and it also provides novel means for removing thestamped bottles from the turntable and returning them to the bottleconveyor 16 for discharge from the machine The means for introducing thebottles onto the turntable, as shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, comprises aturnstile 55 embodying a pair of arms fixed to a shaft 56, the latterbeing mounted adjacent to the edge of the turntable and concentricallyof the curved bottle guiding rails 25 by a bearing 51 which is supportedon the conveyor supporting plate 21. The shaft 56 has a gear 58 fixed onits lower end, this gear meshing with an idler gear 59 mounted on a studfixed to the underside of the conveyor supporting plate 21, and theidler gear 59 meshes with another gear 6| which is of the same diameteras that of the gear 58, the gear 5| having a sufficiently wide face tomesh also with the turntable gear 35 so that rotation of the turntablewill rotate the gear BI and also, through the idler gear 59, the gear 58which operates the turnstile 55. The gear BI is fixed on a shaft 62which is journalled in a suitable bearing 63 supported on the conveyorsupporting plate 21, and this shaft is concentric with the curvedportions 30 of the bottle guiding rails 30. The upper end of the shaft52 carries a turnstile 64 comprising a pair of diametrically oppositearms. The diametrically opposite arms of the turnstile 55 operate in thebottle passageway between the curved portions 25 of the bottle guidingrails and in a direction to advance the bottles through this passagewaytoward the turntable, and the, diametrically opposite arms of theturnstile B4 operate in the passageway between the curved portions 3i)of the bottle guiding rails and in a direction to remove the bottlesfrom the turntable. Since the gears 58 and 6| which operate bothturnstiles are of the same diameter, the turnstiles will revolve at thesame speed or in unison, and as they are driven from the gear 35 whichrotates the turntable, they will operate in proper timed relation withthe turntable. The arms of both turnstiles are of sufficient length tooverlie the edge of the turntable so that the turnstile 55 will push thebottles onto the turntable and the turnstile 54 will engage the stampedbottles on the turntable and remove them therefrom. However, the arms ofthe turnstile 55 are preferably somewhat shorter than those of theturnstile 64 in order that each bottle, after it has been placed on theturntable and engaged by the respective stamp applying device, Willadvance with the turntable and the stamp afiixing device at a somewhathigher speed than the peripheral speed of the turnstile 55, therebyinsuring clearing of this turnstile by the bottle.

The present invention also provides novel escapement means for indexingthe bottles as the advance to the turnstile 55. Such indexing means, asshown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises an escapement arm 65 havinga roller 65 sprocket wheel 82 journalled in its end, the arm 65 beingfixed to a vertical shaft 61 which is pivoted in a bracket 68 fixed tothe conveyor supporting plate 21. An arm 69 is fixed to the lower end ofthe shaft 61, this arm being pivotally connected by a stud 10 to a camyoke H which slidably engages a block 12 on the shaft 55 of theturnstile 55, the yoke being supported on the lower end of this shaft bya nut 13 threaded on said shaft. The gear 58 on the shaft 55 carries acam 74, which may be mounted adjustably thereon to enable the escapementarm 65 to be timed accurately in relation to the turnstile 55, and thecam yoke II has a roller 15 journalled thereon and arranged to ride onthe cam 14 and to follow said cam under the action of a tension spring16 which connects a stud H on the arm 69 to a hook 18 on the bearing 51.By this arrangement, the roller 66 on the end of the escapement arm 55will be normally held in the path of the bottles entering the machinebetween the guide rails 25 at a point immediately in advance of theturnstile 55. However, the cam 14 revolves with the turnstile 55 and itoperates, through the cam yoke H, to move the escapement arm 65 out ofthe path of the bottles successively and thereby space them in properrelation to be engaged successively by the turnstile 55. The cam 74 isset to allow the escapement arm to return to the path of the enteringbottles immediately after a bottle has passed it, thereby causing theroller on the escapement arm to engage the front of the next followingbottle. The roller 66 provides an anti-friction engagement between theescapement arm and the bottle so that the escapement arm may be easilydisengaged from the,

bottle. The duration of the period during which the escapement arm isheld out of the path of the bottles is made to conform with the speed ofthe conveyor which advances the bottles and the transverse width of thebottles.

According to the present invention, a suitable number of stamp afiixingdevices are mounted in an annular series above the turntable 29, thesedevices rotating in unison with the turntable and applying and affixingstamps to the tops of the bottles and holding the stamps firmly on thebottles until they become firmly affixed thereto before the bottles aredischarged from the turntable. Each of these stamp afiixing devices, asshown in detail in Figs, 29 to 35 inclusive, comprises a pair ofvertical guide posts and 8B? which are fixed at their lower ends to abracket 9| which is bolted or otherwise secured to a which is ofapproximately the that of the turntable 29 and is mounted above theturntable by its hub 83 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 39 andis supported thereon by a collar 84 which is clamped or otherwise fixedto this shaft. Since the shaft 39 is fixed to the vertically adjustableauxiliary frame 3 so that it will move vertically when the auxiliaryframe is adjusted vertically, and the sprocket wheel 82 rests on thecollar 84 on this shaft, this sprocket Wheel will be adjusted verticallyrelatively to the turntable 29 and will thereby adjust the stamp amxingdevices vertically when the machine is adjusted for the stamping ofbottles of different heights. The sprocket wheel 82 however is drivenfrom the gear wheel 35 which rotates the turntable 29 by a suitablenumber of pins 85 which are bolted or otherwise fixed at their lowerends to the gear wheel 35, the upper ends of these pins extendingslidably through bushings 86 fitted in the sprocksame diameter as et82.. By this arrangement, the sprocket wheel 32 will; be driven from thegear wheel 35, and it will maintain its driving connection with saidgear, although the machine may be adjusted for the stamping of bottlesof different heights. A housing Z-lll is preferably employed topartially enclose the series of stamp afiixing devices.

The guide posts, Bi), and til of each stamping device are connected attheir upper ends by a cross member 81, and a rod 83 is slidable throughthis cross member, the lower end of this rod having a head 8,9 fixed;thereto, thi head having a facing 90 Qfrubber or other suitable yieldingmew terial to engage the top or mouth of a bottle resting on theturntable and having flared flanges 91 at its opposite sides to en ageand center the bottle mouth. The rod 83, is yieldingly presseddownwardly by a compression spring 92 which encircles it, this springhearing at its upper end against the underside of the cross member tiland; hearing at its lower. end on a collar 33 fixed to the rod 83. Theguide postsv lit and til also have a slide 9t mounted to reciprocatevertically thereon, this slide carrying a roller which pcrates in, a camtrack 9% fixed on a circular support or wheel; 91 which is. clamped orotherwise fixed to the shaft 39 and is concentric therewith. However, asthe shaft 39 is non-rotatable, the roller 95 of each stamp affixingdevice will travel around the cam 95 incident to the rotation of 94, as.shown in detail in Fig. 31, has a lower arm 98 on which the collar 23;on the rod 38 is adapt.- ed to rest so that while the slide is itselevated position the head 89 will be raised, and when the slide 9A islowered, the head fill will. descend under the action of the spring 532.Descent of the head 83 however is limited by a collar 9.9 fixed onv theupper end of the rod 88.

The slide 9,4 slidably supports a pair of rods it!) the upper ends ofwhich are connected by a cross member ill-i, and the lower ends of theserods, are fixed to a head m2 which comprises a pair of. plates H33.which are spaced apart a dis-- tance sufiicient to receive the stampbetween them, these plates having a slot id i therein, in

which the head 89. may operate and the lower tween these plates by apivot bolt it the lower portions of these presser arms being faced withpads {01 of soft rubber or other suitable yielding material and, havinga shape conforming substantially with the neck and adjacent portions ofthe shoulders. of the bottles. The upper ends of the presser arms, abovethe pivot bolt, are provided' with screws, 98.3. which are adjustable inthese arms, and, a cam its mounted on the slide 94 is adapted to enterbetween these screws and thereby force the lower ends of the presserarms '65 toward oneanother. l'loe upper ends of the presser arms Hi; aredrawn together by a tension spring lid which connects them holds thescrews Hit in contact with the lot so that when the cam, is in itselevated position as shown in Figs. 30, 33 and 3d the yieldable padsill! on the lower ends of the presser arms will beheld in relativelyseparated relation for insertion over or removal from the upper portionofthe bottle, and. when, the cam M29 is lowered relatively to thepresser arms, the inclines Hit on the cam will engage the screws its andspread them, apart, thereby forcing the pads MP9 on the presser armstoward one another and against the sides of the neck of the bottle. Thecam M39 is preferably mounted for vertical adjustment on the slide 9 asby a clamping screw ill which extends through a vertical slot H2 in thecam and is threaded into the slide at. A tension spring H3 connects thecross member Elli fixed to the upper ends of the rods idll to the slide94, as by a pin [I l fixed in. the head of the screw Hi, this. springacting to hold the presser arms N5 in their lowered position after beingclamped to the sides of the neck of the bottle until after the cam N19,has been raised to permit relative separation of, the pads Hill torelease their pressure against the sides of the neck of the bottle andthe ends of a stamp applied thereto. The extent of descent of thepresser arms SE35 relatively to a bottle on the turntable is limited bya pair of screws i-M which are threaded vertically in lugs H5 fixedbetween the plates let, these screws being adjustable vertically andengageable at their lower ends upon; stop surfaces lid on the upper sideof; the sprocket 82 when the rods ltil carrying the presser arm-s i525are full lowered, as shown in Figs. 34 and 35.

Each of the stamp applying and affixing devices is. of the sameconstruction as that shown in Figs. 2-9 to 35 inclusive, and theoperation of each of these devices is as follows: The stamp A, which maybe in the form of a strip as shown in Fig. 27, is carried into positionabove the respective bottle B, by means hereinafter described, while therespective stamp applying and affixing device is in, its relativelyraised position as shown in- Figs. 29 and 30, at which time the roller$5 is in the relatively raised portion of the cam 95, the

stamp then lying immediately below the space between the flanges ill ofthe head 53 and immediately below the space between the guide platesHill, as shown in Figs. 29 and 30. As the turntable 2 9 and; the bottlethereon and also the stamp applying and device rotate in unison, theroller traverses the downwardly inclined portion Sit of the cam at,thereby lowering the slide El i and the parts carried by it as from theposition shown in Figs. 29, 3i) and 31 to the position shown in Fig. 33,causing the head $9 to first engage the middle of the stamp and to pressit on the top of the bottle as shown in Fig. 33. At this time, the padson the lower ends of the presser arms ltd are in relatively separatedrelation and the plates E63 straddle or are at opposite sides of thestamp so that they guide the stamp ends and thus prevent lateraldeflection thereof. At this point the ends of the stamp are released bytheir carrier, as will be hereinafter described. A the complete stampapplying and aifixing device, excepting the head 89; descends further,the spring 52 is compressed, thereby pressing the head as firmly uponthe midche of the stamp on the top or mouth of the bottle, and thecomplete stamp applying and affixing device continues its descent,thereby bringingthe pads lill on the presser arms E95 down alongopposite sides of the bottle neck until the stop screws l i lcome torest on the stop surfaces M6 on the sprocket, at which time the presserarms reach their lowest position. During this descent of the presserarms, they engage the ends of the. stamp which project from oppositesides of the bottle mouth and thereby deflect the ends of the stampdownwardly toward opposite sides of the bottle neck, as shown in Fig.34, and during this operation, the ends of the stamp, which lie betweenthe plates I03, are guided truly toward the sides of the bottle neck.Further descent of the slide 94, which takes place when the cam roller95 reaches the lowest portion 96 of the cam 95, causes the cam I09 todescend relatively to the presser arms I05, thereby causing its inclinedsurfaces I03 to act on the screws I08 to spread apart the upper ends ofthe presser arms and consequently force together the pads I01 on thelower ends of the presser arms, these pads thereby acting on the ends ofthe stamp to press them firmly against the opposite sides of the bottleneck and thereby cause the stamp, which has been previously suppliedwith glue or other adhesive, to become firmly affixed to the oppositesides of the neck and the upper portions of the shoulders of the bottle,as shown in Fig. 35. The relatively soft or yielding nature of the padsI01 enables them to press all portions of the stamp ends into intimatecontact with the more or less irregular surfaces of the bottle neck andshoulders, thereby insuring adhesion of all portions of the stamp to thebottle.

Each stamp applying and affixing device, as it travels around the cam 96incident to the rotation of the turntable, remains in its fully loweredand clamping position as shown in Fig. 35, due to the travel of theroller 95 in the lowest portion 96 of the cam 95 until such device andthe respective stamped bottle reach the discharge point for theturntable, whereupon the roller 95 traverses the upwardly inclinedportion 90 of the cam 96. cend, first causing the cam I09 to rise whilethe presser arms I05 are still held down on the bottle by the tension ofthe spring II3. This ascent of the cam I09 releases its pressure on thescrews I08, thereby permitting the spring IID to retract the pads I01from clamping engagement with the bottle neck, and as the slide 34continues to rise, its upper end engages the cross arm IOI connectingthe upper ends of the rods I carry ing the presser arms I05, therebycarrying these presser arms upwardly, thus returning the parts of thedevice to the position shown in Fig. 33, and the final portion of theascent of the slide 94, which occurs when the roller 95 reaches thehighest portion 00 of the cam, causes the arm 98 l on the slide to pickup the collar 93 on the rod 88, thereby lifting the head 89 from thebottle mouth and returning the parts of the device to the position shownin Figs. 29, 30 and 31. By maintaining the presser arms I in clampingrelation with the ends of the stamp lying against the sides of thebottle neck during the relatively large portion of the rotation of theturntable dur-- ing which the roller 95 is travelling in the relativelylong lower portion 96 of the cam 90, firm aflixing of the stamp to thebottle is insured before the stamped bottle is discharged from theturntable.

The present invention provides novel means for feeding the stamps from amagazine, transfer- 1" ring them to the stamp applying and afiixingdevices, and releasing the stamp for application to the bottles, theseparts of the machine being shown most clearly in Figs. '7 to 2'1inclusive.

The stamps A, in the form of strips as shown in Fig. 2'1, are placed instacked relation in a magazine which, as shown, comprises a rear wallI20, front wall sections I2! and I22 which form a vertical slot betweenthem, edge walls I23 and The slide 94 is thereby caused to as- I24, anda bottom wall I25, these walls forming a receptacle of a shape toreceive and hold a stack of the stamps. The upper ends of the frontwalls I2I and I22 may be cut away as shown in Fig. '1 to facilitate theinsertion of stacks of stamps into the magazine, and the stamps may beretained from displacement in the magazine by a spring finger I26 thelower end of which is fixed to the bottom wall I25 and the upper portionof which extends vertically between the front plates I2I and I22 and isengageable yieldingly against the edges of the stack of stamps in themagazine, the stamps resting on the bottom wall I25. The bottom wall I25terminates short of the wall I24, thus providing an opening throughwhich the lowermost stamps in the stack may be removed successively fromthe magazine, and a suction plate I21 is mounted in this opening, thissuction plate having a suction aperture I28 which is open at the upperside of the plate so that it will underlie a stamp resting on thesuction plate, the suction plate having a passageway I29 therein leadingfrom the suction opening I28 to a nipple I30 to which a flexible suctionhose I3I may be attached. The suction plate, as shown in detail in Fig.11, is mounted on a shaft I32 which is journalled in a. bearing I33formed in or attached to the lower portion of the magazine plate I20,and this shaft has an arm I34 clamped or otherwise fixed thereon, thisarm carrying a roller I 35 which controls the operation of the suctionplat-e relatively to the magazine. The magazine is pivoted at its uppercorner above the suction plate to a relatively fixed bracket I30 whichmay be bolted or otherwise secured to a supporting plate I31, by a shaftI38 which is fixed by a flanged coupling I39 to said upper corner of themagazine. The shaft I38 is journalled to rotate in bearings I40 in thebracket I36 and it has an arm I4I fixed thereon and pivotally connectedby a pin I42 to the upper end of a cam yoke I43. The lower end of thiscam yoke straddles and is guided by a block I44 mounted loosely on ashaft I45, and the cam yoke carries a roller I 40 which operates in thecam track I41 of a cam M8, the latter being suitably fixed to the shaftI 45 to rotate therewith and operating to swing or oscillate themagazine to and fro about the shaft I38 as an axis. The shaft I45 ismounted in bearings in brackets I and I5I which are bolted or otherwisesecured to the underside of the plate I31, and the bracket I50 has a camI52 fixed to a side thereof, the roller I35 on the arm I34 attached tothe suction plate operating in this cam and thereby controlling theoperation of the suction plate. The cam I52 may be of rectilinear formand inclined as shown in Figs. '1 and 12 at such an angle that the upperface of the suction plate I21 will be maintained in ahorizontalposition, or substantially so, during the to and fro oscillation of themagazine by the shaft I38, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 13 to 16inclusive. The shaft I l-5 is driven continuously through bevel gearsI55 from a shaft I55 the upper end of which is journalled in a bearingin the bracket I5I, and the shaft I 56 is driven continuously by apinion I51 which is fixed thereon and meshes with the gear M whichdrives the turntable, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The plate I31 whichcarries the stamp feeding mechanism, including its operating shaft I45and the driving shaft I 56, is fixed by rods I38 and braces I53 to theauxiliary vertically ad justable frame 3, and it may be further securedfirmly, as by a split clamp I00, to the adjacent drawn by the gripperwheel from the magazine by its leading end, and when this end of thestamp reaches the lower side of the gripper Wheel it is engaged by meanswhich transfers the stamp from the gripper wheel to the devicespreviously described which apply and afiix the stamps to the bottles.

The stamp transferring means provided by the present invention comprisesan endless chain I85 which may be an ordinary roller chain, this chainwhich may be of the same construction, each carrier having a saddleportion I9I by means of which it is bolted or otherwise fixed to linksin the chain I95, and each carrier is in the form of a yoke havingguiding fingers I92 projecting from one side thereof, and having a pairof shafts I93 rotatably mounted in the yoke near its ends, these shaftscarrying hook like pins or needles I94. Each shaft I93 is provided witha spring I95 which acts thereon to swing its respective pin upwardly,and each shaft is provided with a block I99 which is fixed thereon andhas an arm arranged to engage the respective yoke arm I92 and therebyarrest the swing of the pins when i they assume substantially verticalpositions. One of the shafts I93 has a cam I91 fixed thereon which isturned upwardly, and the other shaft I93 has a cam 98 fixed thereon andwhich is turned downwardly. The chain I95 and the stamp carriers thereonare guided as they travel between the idler sprocket I88 and thesprocket 82 by rails I99 which are supported by brackets 200 fixed to aplate 2%, the latter being supported rigidly from the plate I31 by asuitable numi ber of rod 292. The chain during its travel passes betweenthe rails I99 while the yokes I90 are suspended beneath these rails, andthe arms I92 of the yokes ride on rails 203 which are mounted on theplate 20I, as shown in Fig. 8. t

Normally, and as the stamp carrying yokes approach the gripper wheelI95, the pins I94 will be upturned and held in such position by thesprings I95. As the leading pin on a yoke passes beneath the gripperwheel I65, the pin I 94 on .i

its leading end will project above the plane of the 7 leading end of thestamp as it is brought to the lower side of the gripper wheel I95 and,while the leading end of the stamp is still gripped by the jaws I12 andH1, this pin will pierce the leading end of the stamp, immediatelyfollowing which the gripper finger I13 is opened to release the leadingend of the stamp, as shown in Fig. 19. The chain 885 and the stampcarrying yokes thereon are driven from the sprocket 82 so that they willadvance at the same peripheral speed as that of the gripper wheel I65,and after the leading end of the stamp has been released by the gripperwheel the stamp is drawn through the curved guides I93 and then throughthe straight guide extension I69 by the pins I94 on which it is impaled,the stamp being guided by its edges which engage in the grooves in theguide extensions I69, and when the rear or trailing end of the stampapproaches a point directly beneath the gripper wheel, the trailing pinI 94 is retracted or lowered by engagement of its depending cam I98which comes into contact with a cam 295 which is located in its path,thereby causing this trailing pin to be lowered and as it reache a pointdirectly beneath the center of the gripper wheel I65, the cam I 96reaches the end of the cam 205 and the spring I95 is thereby caused tosnap this pin upwardly so as to pierce the trailing end of the stamp, asshown in Fig. 17. Fig. '1 shows the cam I98 as it is riding on the cam295. In order to prevent damage to the stamp carrying mechanism in theevent the machine is turned backwardly for inspection, adjustment orother purposes, the cam 205 is carried by a plate 299 which is pivotallyconnected to the upper ends of a pair of parallel links 281, the lowerends of these links being pivotally mounted on plates 298 attached tothe underside of the plate 29L The plate 209 is normally held in itsraised operative position against a stop pin 299 by a tension spring2H1, this spring however being yieldable to permit downward deflectionof the cam 295 should the stamp carrier chain be moved backwardly.

The stamp, impaled upon and thus suspended between the upturned pins 294of the stamp carrier, is conveyed by the chain I85 to the periphery ofthe sprocket 82, and as each stamp carrying yoke commences its travelaround the periphery of the sprocket 82 it introduces the stamp betweenthe top of a bottle as the same is fed onto the turntable 29 by theturnstile 55 and one of the stamp applying and affixing devices of theannular series which rotate with the turntable, the stamp beingintroduced so that it lies directly beneath the head 89 between itsflanges 9| and lengthwise directly beneath the space between the platesI93, as shown in Fig. 6, it being understood that at this time therespective stamp applying and afiixing device is in its fully elevatedposition. The moment the head 89 has descended and pressed the middle ofthe stamp upon the top or mouth of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 33, thepins I94 are retracted to release the ends of the stamp. This releasingmeans is shown in detail in Figs. 23 and 24. It comprises a plate 2H]bolted or otherwise fixed to the outer chain guiding rail I99 and havinga pin 2II located in the path of the cam I91 on the shaft of the leadingpin I99 so that as this cam engages the pin 2II, the leading pin 94 isswung downwardly, thereby retracting this pin from the leadingend of thestamp. Another plate M2 is bolted or otherwise fixed to the outer chainguiding rail I99 and this plate carries a pin 2l3 which is arranged inthe path of the downturned cam E98 on the shaft of the trailing pin i9 3so that as the stamp carrier advances this cam will engage the pin 2 I3and will be deflected thereby in a direction to retract the trailing pinI94, thereby releasing it from the trailing end of the stamp. The pins 2and 253 are preferably so located as to cause both pins to besimultaneously retracted to release both ends of the stamp. In order toavoid damage to the stamp carrying mechanism in the event the machine isturned backwardly for inspection, adjustment or other purposes, the pin25! and 253 are carried by levers 2M and 2 25 respectively which arepivoted at 2H5 and 2 I 1 respectively on the plates BIG and M2, the pins25 I and 253 operating in slots 2H! and 299 in the respective plates andtension springs 229 and 22I normally holding the pins against theforward ends of the slots as shown in Fig. 23, reverse &

movement of the chain I95 however causing the pins 2H and 213 to bedeflected in the slots and thereby permit the cams I97 and IQB to passthe pins BI E and H3 without obstruction.

As each stamp is 'drawn around the gripper wheel #65 it is provided witha strip of glue or other adhesive on that side of the stamp which is tobe applied to the bottle. The glue applying means, which is shown moreparticularly in Figs. 7 and 9, comprises a segmental glue transfer roll225 which is fiXe'd to a shaft 226 iournalled in a bracket 22?, the roll225 being located to operate between the curved guides Hi8 and to bearon and apply a strip of glue or adhesive longitudinally to the portionof the stamp which is exposed between these guides. The glue transferroll 225 is driven from the shaft 15 by a gear 228 fixed on said shaftand meshing with a gear 229 fixed on the glue roll shaft 223. In orderto enable the glue transfer roll to be adjusted relatively to thegripper wheel and the stamp thereon, the bracket 22'! which carries theglue transfer roll is pivoted at 230 to a bracket 23! which is bolted orotherwise fixed to the underside of the plate I31, a portion of thepivoted bracket 227 projecting to one side of the pivot 23B and beingacted upon by a compression spring 232 between it and the bracket 23!,and an adjusting screw 233 is threaded through the plate I31 and bearson a portion of the bracket 221 at the opposite side of the pivot 230,adjustment of the screw 233 in one or the other direction moving theglue transfer roll 225 toward or from the periphery of the gripper wheelHi5. The glue transfer roll receives glue or adhesive from a glue roll235 which rotates in contact therewith. This glue roll is fixed on ashaft 23% which is journalled in a bracket 231, the latter beingslidable on gibs 233 secured to the underside of the plate I37 so thatthe glue roll 235 may be adjusted toward and from the glue transfer.roll 225. The glue roll 235 is provided with suitable means forsupplying it with glue or other adhesive, a glue pot 2M] being shown inthe present instance which is of cylindrical form and having lugs 2 atits ends which are slidable adjustably in slots 242 in the bracket 231,the glue pot having a slot M3 in a side into wh ch the periphery of theglue roll 235 may extend and thereby pick up glue or adhesive from thepot, and the pot being adjustable toward and from the glue roll by apair of screws 244 threaded in the bracket 23! and bearing on the lugs24 I, compression springs 245 bearing on the opposite sides of the lugs24! and holding them in engagement with the screws. The glue roll andglue pot as a whole are adjustable toward and from the glue transferroll 225 by a screw 246 which is mounted rotatably in the bracket 231and threaded into the gib 238 on the underside of the plate I31.

If desired, means may be employed for moistening the stamps before theyare applied to the bottles in order to soften the stamps and thus renderthem more pliable and thereby facilitate their application to thebottles so that they will lie in intimate relation with the bottles.Such means may consist of a brush 266 (Fig. 7) mounted above the path oftravel of the stamps as they are advanced by the chain I85 toward thebottles, this brush being located in a position to brush over the stampsas they are suspended between and advanced endwise by the pins I94, andsupplied with water at a suitably slow rate through a hose 2&5 leadingfrom a suitable reservoir 262.

The construction and operation of the diiferent mechanisms of themachine having been described in detail, the general operation of themachine is as follows: he bottles B to be stamped are placed in anysuitable way on the travelling bottle conveyor It at the left hand endof the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and '2 and between the guide rails 25so that the bottles are in upright position and in a row thereon, andthe stamps are stacked inthe stamp magazine. The bottle conveyor isdriven continuously to convey the bottles from the left toward the rightin Figs. 1 and 2 by the motor 15? which also operates to rotate theturntable 2'? and the sprocket '82 continuously and to also drive thestamp feeding shaft I #35 continuously as well as to operate the pump icontinuously. As the bottles approach the intake tur'nstile 55, which isdriven continuously from the turntable, the escapernent 65 moves intoand out of the path of the bottles, thereby spacing them for engagementby the turnstile 55. This turnstile feeds the bottles successivelyaround the curved portions 25 of the guide rails onto the turntablewhile the latter revolves, thereby placing the bottles on the turntablein an annular row, and as the stamp applying and affixing devicescarried by the sprocket 82 are also rotated in unison with the turntableand are spaced circumferentially thereof at intervals corresponding tothe intervals at which the bottles are placed On the turntable by theturnstile 55, the bottles will be placed on the turntable in positionsimmediately beneath the respective stamp applying and afiixing devices.

The stamp conveyor chain I85, which is driven from the sprocket 82 andhence at a speed corresponding with the speed of rotation of the row ofbottles and the stamp applying and affixing devices, is supplied withgurnrned stamps A successively by the gripper wheel, the stamps beingimpaled upon the pins I54 so that they are suspended between these ins,and the stamp conveyor chain carries the stamps to the stamp applyingand aflixing devices in a path which is tangential to the circular pathof rotation of said devices, the stamps being thus introducedsuccessively between the top of each bottle on the turntable and therespective stamp applying and affixing device.

As the stamp applying and anixing devices rotate around the cam 95, thehead it of the device beneath which the stamp has just been introducedis first lowered to press the middle of the stamp on the top of thebottle, immediately following which the pins 2!! and 2I3 operate uponthe stamp carrying pins Hi4, incident to the travel of the chain I65,and retract or withdraw them from the ends of the stamp, therebyreleasing the ends of the stamp for application to the bottle. Theimmediately following portion of the rotation of this stamp applying andailixing device causes the presser arms H15 to bend the ends of thestamp down at opposite sides of the bottle neck by the presser arms IE5while guided laterally by the guide plates M13, as shown in Figs. 33 and34, and the final operation of the stamp applying and afiixing devicecauses the presser arms to clamp the ends of the stamp firmly andintimately against the opposite sides of the bottle neck for afiixingthe stamp thereto, as shown in Fig. 35.

Each stamp applying and affixing device is held

